Computer gaming extension

ABSTRACT

In a method for computer gaming, a processing system is handling standard procedures for a poker game according to basic rules of poker. The method includes the steps of the processing system dealing (S 1 ) cards, the processing system handling (S 2 ) betting rounds, and the processing system deciding (S 4 ) which player(s) that wins the hand. The processing system is further handling (S 3 ) an extended set of rules involving a set of game influence actions, which can be selectively triggered by a player during a game to alter, override or extend the basic poker rules. In effect, the processing system is effectuating a selected one of the game influence actions in response to a user trigger, by a player, representing the selected game influence action.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit if U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/495,559, filed on Jun. 10, 2011, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The proposed technology generally relates to a method for computer gaming, a game machine system, a user access unit for computer gaming, a computer program for computer gaming and a method for poker.

BACKGROUND

Card games, and poker games in particular, have become very popular, especially in the form of computer gaming such as on-line poker and stand-alone game machines.

Poker generally refers to a number of card games where players wager on the strength of the cards they hold. Normally, a poker game involves multiple players competing against each other for an accumulated pot of money. Casinos and online poker operators draw a percentage, also known as the rake, of each pot, thus generating revenue regardless of which player that wins each hand.

There is a wide variety of different poker games with different rules, including Community card games such as Hold'em and Omaha, but also other types of poker such as Stud poker and Draw games.

Two of the most popular types of poker are Hold'em and Omaha poker. Here, the general aim is to either collect a five card hand that is better than the five card hand of one or more opponents, or to try to bet in such a way that opponents believe that their hand is inferior and therefore fold their cards.

In Hold'em, each player gets an initial hand of two cards. Typically, there is a betting round followed by the so-called flop, which is the dealing of three community cards face-up. After another betting round comes the so-called turn, which is the dealing of a fourth community card face-up. After yet another betting round comes the so-called river, which is the dealing of a fifth and final community card face-up. Then there is a final betting round, assuming that there are two or more players left in the game. The player that can form the best five card hand using any combination of the two initial cards dealt and the five community cards wins the accumulated pot.

In Omaha, each player gets four cards. The distribution of community cards and the betting structure is the same as in Hold'em. In Omaha, each player must use two of the four cards initially dealt in combination with three of the five community cards to form their best five card hand.

Although very popular, Hold'em and Omaha as well as other poker variations do have their inherent limitations due to the rules of the game.

SUMMARY

It is an object to provide a powerful extension, modification or add-on to a poker game, especially for computer-based poker.

In accordance with a first aspect of the proposed technology, there is provided a method for computer gaming, wherein a processing system is handling standard procedures for a poker game according to basic rules of poker. The method includes the steps of the processing system dealing cards, the processing system handling betting rounds, and the processing system deciding which player(s) that wins the hand. The processing system is further handling an extended set of rules involving a set of game influence actions, which can be selectively triggered by a player during a game to alter, override or extend the basic poker rules. In effect, the processing system is effectuating a selected one of the game influence actions in response to a user trigger, by a player, representing the selected game influence action.

By way of example, the set of game influence actions may include actions designed to limit the gaming possibilities of one or more opponents and/or improve the gaming possibilities of the player invoking the game influence actions.

In accordance with a second aspect of the proposed technology, there is provided a game machine system. The game machine system comprises a processing system configured to handle standard procedures for a poker game according to basic rules of poker. The processing system is configured to deal cards, handle betting rounds, and decide which player(s) that wins the hand. The processing system is further configured to handle an extended set of rules involving a set of game influence actions, which can be selectively triggered by a player during a game to alter, override or extend the basic poker rules. In this regard, the processing system is configured to effectuate a selected one of the game influence actions in response to a user trigger, by a player, representing the selected game influence action.

As an example, the game machine system may be realized in the form of a personal computer or a handheld device executing poker software, or as a specially manufactured game machine, where the game machine system is configured to emulate players around a virtual poker table and allow a player to play against the game machine system.

In another example, the game machine system represents a central processing system in an overall distributed system for on-line poker. For example, the game machine system may be realized as a poker server that can be connected to and interact with a number of user access units allowing players located at different locations to participate in a poker game.

In accordance with a third aspect of the proposed technology, there is provided a user access unit for computer gaming. The user access unit is configured to allow a player to participate in a poker game according to basic rules of poker. The user access unit has a user input interface configured to enable a player to provide relevant user input relating to the poker game, a network interface configured to enable interaction with a central processing system for on-line poker, and a graphic user interface configured to enable graphic representation of the poker game. The user access unit is further configured to enable the player to selectively invoke a game influence action from a set of game influence actions, which can be selectively triggered by the player during a game, to alter, override or extend the basic poker rules.

By way of example, the user access unit may be realized as a poker client comprising client software representing a poker game application for execution on processing hardware, and the network interface may then be configured to enable interaction with a poker server.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the proposed technology, there is provided a computer program for performing, when executed by a computer system, the above method for computer gaming.

In accordance with a fifth aspect of the proposed technology, there is provided a method for poker. The method comprises the step of handling standard procedures for a poker game according to basic rules of poker including dealing cards, handling betting rounds, and deciding which player(s) that wins the hand. The method further comprises the step of handling an extended set of rules involving a set of game influence actions, which can be selectively triggered by a player during a game to alter, override or extend the basic poker rules, including effectuating a selected one of said game influence actions in response to a user trigger, by a player, representing the selected game influence action.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The proposed technology, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by making reference to the following description taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating an example of a method for poker, and especially for computer gaming.

FIG. 2A is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of a game machine system.

FIG. 2B is a schematic block diagram illustrating another example of a game machine system.

FIG. 2C is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of an on-line poker gaming system.

FIG. 2D is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of a user access unit.

FIG. 3 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating an example of a hand with Game Influence Actions for Texas Hold'em or Omaha.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating an example of a hand with the “Burn Card” Game Influence Action for Texas Hold'em or Omaha.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating an example of a hand with the “New Card” Game Influence Action for Texas Hold'em or Omaha.

FIG. 6 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating an example of a hand with the “Deraise” Game Influence Action for Texas Hold'em or Omaha.

FIG. 7 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating an example of a hand with the “Run It Twice” Game Influence Action for Texas Hold'em or Omaha.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The proposed technology provides an extension, modification or add-on to any poker game, regardless of whether it is live poker or computer-based poker such as online poker or stand-alone game machines, tournaments or regular cash games.

With the extension, each of a number of players is given a set of game influence actions, also referred to as spells, which can be selectively used or invoked during a game to alter or override the normal or basic poker rules.

In other words, there is a basic layer providing the normal basic rules of any conventional poker game. In accordance with the proposed technology, there is also an extension layer or add-on for handling an extended set of rules involving an additional set of game influence actions, also referred to as spells, which can be triggered by a player to alter, override or extend the basic rules.

Typically, the game influence actions, or spells, can be triggered by a player in order to alter, override or extend the basic rules by limiting the gaming possibilities of one or more opponents and/or improving the gaming possibilities of the player invoking a spell.

By way of example, the game influence actions includes preventing or forcing actions with respect to one or more players and/or one or more of the cards involved in the game.

For example, the game influence action(s) may include at least one of the following non-limiting examples:

-   -   Preventing a player from acting for the rest of the         hand—“Freeze” spell.     -   Forcing one or more of the community cards to be removed or         burnt—“Burn community card” spell.     -   Forcing one or more of the dealt cards of an opponent to be         removed or burnt—“Burn opponent's card” spell.     -   Forcing the players to act counter-clockwise from the         dealer—“Reverse position” spell.     -   Forcing at least one card belonging to a player of choice, or a         community card, to be mucked and a new card to be dealt—“New         card” spell.     -   Forcing at least one opponent to reveal at least one dealt card         from his hand—“See card” spell.

It may also be possible to include one or more spells that graphically alter the avatar of a targeted player. An avatar is a graphical representation of each player/user.

More non-limiting examples of so-called “spells” will be given later on.

For example, in a poker tournament, each player may be assigned a predetermined number of spells, which may be used during the tournament. Normally, the total number of spells that can be used by a player will be limited, and when a spell has been used by a player that player can be restricted from using any more spells for a number of rounds. The number of spells that can be invoked during any given hand may also be limited.

The proposed technology may be implemented as a method for poker, as illustrated with reference to example given in the flow diagram of FIG. 1. The method includes dealing cards (step S1), handling betting rounds (step S2), handling the additional set of game influence actions, or spells, which can be triggered by players to alter, override or extend the basic rules (step S3), and deciding which player(s) that wins the hand (step S4). The steps are not necessarily performed in a strict sequential order, and may be performed iteratively or even in parallel as indicated by the dashed arrows. Once a hand has been completed, a new hand or round can be started, if desired.

Step S3 basically involves handling the extended set of rules involving the set of game influence actions, which can be selectively triggered by a player during a game to alter, override or extend the basic poker rules. This at least involves effectuating a selected one of the game influence actions in response to a user trigger, by a player, representing the selected game influence action.

Preferably, the proposed technology is realized as a method for computer gaming, in which a processing system such as a computer executes the above method steps. In particular, the step of handling the additional set of game influence actions, or “spells”, is normally performed by the processing system in response to user triggers representing the spells.

The proposed technology also provides a game machine system for poker. This may be a stand-alone game machine, e.g. realized as a specially manufactured game machine or in the form of a personal computer, or a handheld device including also a smart phone such as an Iphone, or an electronic tablet device such as an Ipad, executing poker software. The poker software may be downloaded, e.g. as a computer game to be played on a personal computer or as an application (App) for a smart phone or electronic tablet.

The game machine system comprises a processing system configured to handle standard procedures for a poker game according to basic rules of poker. The processing system is configured to deal cards, handle betting rounds, and decide which player(s) that wins the hand. The processing system is further configured to handle an extended set of rules involving a set of game influence actions, which can be selectively triggered by a player during a game to alter, override or extend the basic poker rules. In this regard, the processing system is configured to effectuate a selected one of the game influence actions in response to a user trigger, by a player, representing the selected game influence action.

By way of example, the processing system may be configured to effectuate a game influence action designed to limit the gaming possibilities of one or more opponents and/or improve the gaming possibilities of the player invoking the game influence action.

The processing system may for example be configured to effectuate a game influence action that is a preventing or forcing action with respect to one or more players and/or one or more of the cards involved in the game.

In a particular example, the poker game forms part of a poker tournament, and the processing system is configured to assign, to each player, a predetermined number of game influence actions that may be used during the tournament. It may also be possible for the processing system to be configured to restrict, when a player has used a game influence action, that player from using any more game influence actions for a predetermined number of rounds.

In a particular example, as schematically exemplified in FIG. 2A, the game machine is configured or programmed to allow a single player to play against the machine, which then emulates the other players around a virtual poker table. The game machine thus allows the player to provide user input relating to the game through a suitable user interface, and the game machine is configured to respond to the user input from the player. The game machine is configured to deal cards, handle betting rounds, handle the additional set of game influence actions, or spells, which can be triggered by the player to alter, override or extend the basic rules, and decide which player(s) that wins the hand.

In the example of FIG. 2A, a computer-implementation of the computer game machine is illustrated. The game machine 100 is based on a processor 110, a memory 120 and an Input/Output (I/O) unit 130. These components normally communicate via a system bus and/or an I/O bus. The memory 120 includes software for emulating players around a virtual poker table, for dealing cards, for handling betting rounds, for handling poker actions including the additional set of game influence actions, and for deciding winner(s). User input can be transferred to the processor 110 and/or memory 120 via the I/O unit 130, and gaming data can be transferred from the processor 110 and/or memory 120 to the user output interface (e.g. a display).

In another example, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 2B, the game machine system represents a central processing system in an overall distributed system for on-line poker. This may for example be a poker server or similar processing system that can be connected to and interact with a number of user access units allowing players located at different locations to participate in a poker game. The user access units are often referred to as poker clients in a client-and-server implementation of the overall gaming system.

In the example of FIG. 2B, a computer-implementation of the computer game machine is illustrated. The game machine 200 is based on a processor 210, a memory 220 and an I/O unit 230. These components normally communicate via a system bus and/or an I/O bus. The memory 220 includes software for dealing cards, for handling betting rounds, for handling poker actions including the additional set of game influence actions, and for deciding winner(s). User response(s) from access units can be transferred to the processor 110 and/or memory 120 via the I/O unit 130, and output/gaming data can be transferred from the processor 110 and/or memory 120 to the user access units.

On the user or client side, one or more of the game influence actions are invoked or triggered by a user or player during the poker game. The user access unit or poker client is thus configured to enable a player to selectively invoke a game influence action from a set of game influence actions, in addition to invoking normal user actions for playing a poker game according to the normal basic rules.

On the central processing side, or server side, the poker server or similar central processing system effectuates the game influence actions in response to the user triggers. Preferably, the poker server or equivalent processing system performs dealing cards, handling betting rounds, handling the additional set of game influence actions, or spells, which can be triggered by players to alter, override or extend the basic rules, and deciding which player(s) that wins the hand.

The poker server or equivalent processing system is thus configured to effectuate game influence actions in the game in response to user triggers representing such game influence actions, in addition to handling the standard procedures for a normal poker game according to the basic rules of poker. In particular, the poker server or equivalent processing system is configured to deal cards, handle betting rounds, handle the additional set of game influence actions, or spells, which can be triggered by players to alter, override or extend the basic rules, and decide which player(s) that wins the hand.

Once an account has been created, and the user is logged in, he or she is able to play different games including poker. Users may play poker for free, for money or for other prices, items or articles. The users may bet or wager chips representing money or points or other items with or without real monetary value. In case of real money, a user may deposit money in an account managed by the poker server or associated processing system, and purchase chips to be used in a game, up to the amount deposited in his/her account.

FIG. 2C is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an on-line poker gaming system according to an illustrative embodiment. The overall system basically comprises a poker server 200 connected to a number N of poker clients 300-1, . . . , 300-N, over some form of network such as the Internet and/or other networks including the possibility to use wide area networks and/or local area networks, and wired and/or wireless networks.

The poker server 200 is based on one or more computers, processors or equivalent processing hardware for executing a poker game application. The poker game application generally includes a basic poker module for handling the basic rules of the considered poker game(s), and an extension module for handling a set of game influence actions, also referred to as spells, which can be triggered by players to alter, override or extend the basic rules in order to limit the gaming possibilities of one or more opponents and/or improve the gaming possibilities of the player invoking a spell.

The basic poker module will normally utilize a randomizer to shuffle the cards in a completely fair manner, and the cards are then dealt electronically.

The basic poker module and the extension module may be integrated into a unified poker module handling all the poker rules including both the basic rules of poker and the extended set of rules relating to spells.

In addition, the poker module or one or more associated modules executing on the poker server or some other interconnected processing system may include functionality for handling user, accounts, poker tables, seating, queues, and other various functions of a standard poker game application.

The poker server 200 has an associated interface for receiving user triggers representing spells, as well as other basic poker actions such as entering and leaving a game, folding, checking, betting, raising, depositing, buying chips and so forth.

Each poker client 300 includes functionality for enabling a player to selectively invoke a game influence action (spell) from a set of game influence actions (spells). This may be provided as an extension or update of basic poker client software or as part of a unified poker client. There is also added functionality in the client software for the process of being subjected to the spells, i.e. for being a targeted player.

The user may normally also see his cards as well as any community cards on a screen associated with the user access unit or client terminal. The client typically has an associated user interface enabling the user or player to provide the relevant user input relating to the game. The client also normally has an associated network interface to enable interaction with the central processing system during the game.

A poker client generally includes client software executing on processing hardware such as a computer, smart phone, tablet such as an iPad, and any form of handheld device, or the like of the user, and can thus be construed as a combination of processing hardware and client software. More generally the poker client can be referred to as a user access unit, as previously mentioned.

FIG. 2D is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of a user access unit. In this example, the user access unit basically comprises a basic poker module 310, an extension module 315, a user interface 320, a network interface 330, a graphic interface 340.

The user access unit 300 is configured to allow a player to participate in a poker game according to basic rules of poker, through the basic poker module 310. The user input interface 320 is configured to enable a player to provide relevant user input relating to the poker game. The network interface 330 is configured to enable interaction with a central processing system for on-line poker, and the graphic user interface 340 is configured to enable graphic representation of the poker game. The user access unit 300 is further configured to enable the player to selectively invoke a game influence action from a set of game influence actions, which can be selectively triggered by the player during a game, to alter, override or extend the basic poker rules. The extension module 315 executing in the user access unit 300 enables the player to select (typically via the user input interface 320) and invoke (typically via the network interface 330), a game influence action from the set of game influence actions.

The user access unit 300 may for example be configured to subject the player to a game influence action invoked by another player of the poker game.

The game concept is thus based on poker in any form such as (but not limited to) Texas Hold'em but has an extended set of rules.

Descriptions of the basic rules of Texas Hold'em and other variations of poker can be found, e.g. in the book “Internet Poker” by Lou Krieger and Kathleen Keller Watterson (p 24), or at the Wikipedia website under the search term “Texas Hold'em”.

By way of example, the extended set of rules can be defined as follows:

-   -   Each player has access to a set of game influence actions,         so-called spells, which can be used during game play. When used,         these spells affect the normal or basic rules of the hand in         different ways and eventually the spells may change the outcome         of the hand.     -   Each player has the option to use spells whenever it is the         player's turn to act, before taking “normal” poker actions         (fold, check, bet or raise).

Each spell will have a variable chance of success, typically a spell will be more likely to be successful when cast at an early betting round and less likely to be successful when cast at a later betting round.

Examples of Game Influence Actions (Spells)

Definitions:

“Casting player” refers to the player who uses (casts) a spell.

“Targeted player” refers to the player who is affected by a spell.

“Board card” refers to a community card on the board.

“Hole card” refers to a card initially dealt to a player.

The set of game influence actions may include one or more of the following examples of spells:

Burn Card

A board card of casting player's choice is taken out of play for the rest of the hand.

Visually this may be represented by the target card bursting into flames and burning, and thereafter being scorched.

New Card

A card of casting player's choice, a board card or hole card of any player, is taken out of play and a new card will be dealt to replace it.

See Card

The casting player will be able to see a glimpse of one or two target hole cards belonging to an opponent.

6^(th) Street

An additional card and betting round will take place after the betting on the river card is completed.

Force Check

A bet placed by the player who was last to act before casting player will turn into a check. The amount of the bet will be returned to the player who placed the bet and will no longer be part of the pot.

Deraise

A raise placed by the player who was last to act before casting player will turn into a call. The amount of the raise will be returned to the player who placed the bet and will no longer be part of the pot.

Freeze

Targeted player will not be able to act for the rest of the hand. If no other players than targeted player and casting player are still in the hand the hole cards will be turned face up and an all-in sequence will start (although the players will not put any more money into the pot, thus they will not technically be all-in). If more players are involved in the current hand, all players except for the targeted player will play for a side pot apart from the main pot. The targeted player will only play for the main pot.

Fireball

Targeted player will not be able to act for a number of subsequent hands. Targeted player will still post blinds during these hands if targeted player is supposed to do so.

Visually this may be represented by a ball of fire being shot from casting player's avatar to targeted player's avatar. Targeted player's avatar will catch fire and then be scorched for the subsequent rounds when player is not acting.

Run It Twice

All board cards that will be dealt after the spell is cast will be dealt twice. The winning player of both boards will wind the hand. In the event that one player shows a winning hand on one board and another player shows a winning hand on the other board the pot will be split.

Switch Cards

Casting player will swap hole cards with targeted player for the rest of the hand.

Fake Card

The next dealt board card will appear as another card to all players except for casting player. If spell is cast preflop, then one of the three cards on the flop will become a fake card.

Mirage Card

The next board card dealt will have more than one face.

Example: a card with J, T, Q and 4 appears on the turn. None of the players (except for the casting player) will know which card of the four is the actual card until the showdown. If spell is cast preflop, then one of the three cards on the flop will become a mirage card.

Blindness

All players except for casting player will not see the remaining cards on the board.

Example: if spell is cast on the flop, then all players except casting player will be unable to see the turn and river-card.

Visually the targeted players will see cards without any values or suits.

End Hand

Returns all uncalled bets and ends the hand immediately, no more cards are dealt. This spell can only be used when there are at least 3 unburned table cards. There will be a winner of the hand.

Redo Hand

Returns all bets to players, mucks all board cards and starts the hand over from the first betting round with all players having the same hole cards as they started with. The remaining cards in the deck will be shuffled before dealing board cards.

Pineapple

Affects the next upcoming hand. All players will be dealt three hole cards. On the flop after the betting is completed, all players must muck one hole card.

Joker

Target board card turns into a joker, i.e. it will be treated as the best possible card for each player's hand. An alternative version of the spell is that the next dealt board card is a joker.

Luck

Remaining cards to be dealt are tweaked so that casting player is granted a certain percent greater chance to catch a card that improves his hand value for the rest of the hand and/or a number of subsequent hands.

Reverse Position

Player on the button acts first then all players act counter clockwise for the rest of the hand.

Time Drain

Targeted player gets less time to act than usual for the rest of the hand.

Earthquake

This spell will impair the usability of target players poker software client by graphically making it difficult for target player to perform betting and/or other actions.

It is also possible to provide spells that only affect spells, but do not affect the basic poker rules. In other words, there may be a further set of actions (also referred to as meta actions), which can be selectively triggered by a player during a game to affect one or more of the game influence actions.

Counterspell

This spell will undo the effect of a spell that has been cast during the same betting round.

Magic Drain

Target player will not be able to use spells for the rest of the hand and/or a number of subsequent hands.

Magic Shield

Casting player will not be affected by spells for the rest of the hand and/or a number of subsequent hands.

Magic Boost

Casting player will be able to use more spells than usual for the rest of the hand and/or a number of subsequent hands.

Magic Block

No spells can be used for the rest of the hand and/or a number of subsequent hands.

There may also be provided spells that only graphically alter the avatar of a targeted player, such as the example below.

Turn Into Fish

Targeted player's avatar is turned into a fish for the rest of the hand and/or a number of subsequent hands.

FIG. 3 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating an example of a hand with Game Influence Actions for Texas Hold'em or Omaha.

-   -   1. Hand is started.     -   2. Small Blind and Big Blind are posted.     -   3. Hole cards are dealt to all participating players.     -   4. The first betting round is started. Each player is given the         opportunity to use one (or more) Game Influence Action. The         result of the Game Influence Action may change the rules of the         hand. After the opportunity to use Game Influence Action each         player must normally also make a normal Poker Action (fold,         check, bet or raise).     -   5. Three community cards, called the Flop, are dealt.     -   6. Another betting round including normal Poker Actions and         possibly also Game Influence Actions takes place.     -   7. The Turn card is dealt.     -   8. Another betting round including normal Poker Actions and         possibly also Game Influence Actions takes place.     -   9. The River card is dealt.     -   10. Another betting round including normal Poker Actions and         possibly also Game Influence Actions takes place.     -   11. The pot is awarded to the winning player(s), remaining cards         are mucked and the hand is ended.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating an example of a hand with the “Burn Card” Game Influence Action for Texas Hold'em or Omaha.

-   -   1. Hand is started.     -   2. Small Blind and Big Blind are posted.     -   3. Hole cards are dealt to all participating players.     -   4. The first betting round is started. Each player is given the         opportunity to use one (or more) Game Influence Action. The         result of the Game Influence Action may change the rules of the         hand. After the opportunity to use Game Influence Action each         player must make a normal Poker Action (fold, check, bet or         raise).     -   5. Three community cards, called the Flop, are dealt.     -   6. Another betting round including normal Poker Actions and         possibly also Game Influence Actions takes place.     -   7. In this particular example, a player chooses to use the Game         Influence Action named “Burn Card”. In this example, the result         of this action is that one of the board cards on the flop is         taken out of play.     -   8. The Turn card is dealt.     -   9. Another betting round including normal Poker Actions and         possibly also Game Influence Actions takes place.     -   10. The River card is dealt.     -   11. Another betting round including normal Poker Actions and         possibly also Game Influence Actions takes place.     -   12. The pot is awarded to the winning player, remaining cards         are mucked and the hand is ended.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating an example of a hand with the “New Card” Game Influence Action for Texas Hold'em or Omaha.

-   -   1. Hand is started.     -   2. Small Blind and Big Blind are posted.     -   3. Hole cards are dealt to all participating players.     -   4. The first betting round is started. Each player is given the         opportunity to use one (or more) Game Influence Action. The         result of the Game Influence Action may change the rules of the         hand. After the opportunity to use Game Influence Action each         player must make a normal Poker Action (fold, check, bet or         raise).     -   5. Three community cards, called the Flop, are dealt.     -   6. Another betting round including normal Poker Actions and         possibly also Game Influence Actions takes place.     -   7. In this particular example, a player chooses to use the Game         Influence Action named “New Card”. In this example, the result         of this action is that one of the board cards on the flop is         taken out of play and a new card is dealt in its place.     -   8. The Turn card is dealt.     -   9. Another betting round including normal Poker Actions and         possibly also Game Influence Actions takes place.     -   10. The River card is dealt.     -   11. Another betting round including normal Poker Actions and         possibly also Game Influence Actions takes place.     -   12. The pot is awarded to the winning player, remaining cards         are mucked and the hand is ended.

FIG. 6 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating an example of a hand with the “Deraise” Game Influence Action for Texas Hold'em or Omaha.

-   -   1. Hand is started.     -   2. Small Blind and Big Blind are posted.     -   3. Hole cards are dealt to all participating players.     -   4. The first betting round is started. Each player is given the         opportunity to use one (or more) Game Influence Action. The         result of the Game Influence Action may change the rules of the         hand. After the opportunity to use Game Influence Action each         player must make a normal Poker Action (fold, check, bet or         raise).     -   5. Three community cards, called the Flop, are dealt.     -   6. Another betting round including normal Poker Actions and         possibly also Game Influence Actions takes place. In this         particular example, player n-1 makes a Raise during this round.     -   7. In this example, player n chooses to use the Game Influence         Action named “Deraise”. The result of this action is that the         Raise made by Player n-1 is undone and the corresponding amount         is returned to Player n-1. Player n may now choose to call the         amount of the original bet instead of the raise.     -   8. The Turn card is dealt.     -   9. Another betting round including normal Poker Actions and         possibly also Game Influence Actions takes place.     -   10. The River card is dealt.     -   11. Another betting round including normal Poker Actions and         possibly also Game Influence Actions takes place.     -   12. The pot is awarded to the winning player, remaining cards         are mucked and the hand is ended.

FIG. 7 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating an example of a hand with the “Run It Twice” Game Influence Action for Texas Hold'em or Omaha.

-   -   1. Hand is started.     -   2. Small Blind and Big Blind are posted.     -   3. Hole cards are dealt to all participating players.     -   4. The first betting round is started. Each player is given the         opportunity to use one (or more) Game Influence Action. The         result of the Game Influence Action may change the rules of the         hand. After the opportunity to use Game Influence Action each         player must make a normal Poker Action (fold, check, bet or         raise).     -   5. Three community cards, called the Flop, are dealt.     -   6. Another betting round including normal Poker Actions and         possibly also Game Influence Actions takes place.     -   7. In this particular example, a player chooses to use the Game         Influence Action named “Run It Twice”. In this example, the         result of this action is that there will be two turn cards and         two river cards instead of one of each.     -   8. Two Turn cards are dealt instead of one.     -   9. Another betting round including normal Poker Actions and         possibly also Game Influence Actions takes place.     -   10. Two River cards are dealt instead of one.     -   11. Another betting round including normal Poker Actions and         possibly also Game Influence Actions takes place.     -   12. The pot is awarded to the winning player, remaining cards         are mucked and the hand is ended.

It will be appreciated that the methods and devices described above can be combined and re-arranged in a variety of ways, and that the rules, actions, steps, functions, procedures and/or blocks described above may be implemented in hardware, or in software executed by a suitable computer system or a combination thereof.

It should also be understood that it may be possible to re-use the general processing capabilities of any conventional unit. It may also be possible to re-use existing software, e.g. by reprogramming of the existing software or by adding new software components.

For software implementations, the software or computer program may be implemented as a computer program product on a computer-readable medium. When loaded into the operating memory of the computer system the computer program can then be executed to perform the above-described methods and procedures.

The embodiments described above are to be understood as a few illustrative examples of the proposed technology. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations and changes may be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope of the proposed technology. In particular, different part solutions in the different embodiments can be combined in other configurations, where possible. 

1. A method for computer gaming, wherein a processing system is handling standard procedures for a poker game according to basic rules of poker including the steps of: said processing system dealing cards, said processing system handling betting rounds, and said processing system deciding which player(s) that wins the hand, and wherein said processing system is further handling an extended set of rules involving a set of game influence actions, which can be selectively triggered by a player during a game to alter, override or extend the basic poker rules including the step of: said processing system effectuating a selected one of said game influence actions in response to a user trigger, by a player, representing the selected game influence action.
 2. The method for computer gaming of claim 1, wherein said set of game influence actions includes actions designed to limit the gaming possibilities of one or more opponents and/or improve the gaming possibilities of the player invoking the game influence actions.
 3. The method for computer gaming of claim 1, wherein said additional set of game influence actions includes preventing or forcing actions with respect to one or more players and/or one or more of the cards involved in the game.
 4. The method for computer gaming of claim 3, wherein said additional set of game influence actions includes at least one of the following: preventing a player from acting for the rest of the hand; forcing one or more of the community cards to be removed; forcing one or more of the dealt cards of an opponent to be removed; forcing the players to act counter-clockwise from the dealer; forcing at least one card belonging to a player of choice, or a community card, to be mucked and a new card to be dealt; and forcing at least one opponent to reveal at least one dealt card from his hand.
 5. The method for computer gaming of claim 3, wherein said additional set of game influence actions includes at least one of the following: forcing a community card of casting player's choice to be taken out of play for the rest of the hand; forcing a card of casting player's choice, a community card or a dealt card of any player, to be taken out of play and a new card be dealt to replace it; allowing casting player to see a glimpse of one or two dealt cards belonging to an opponent; forcing an additional card and betting round to take place; forcing a bet placed by another player to turn into a check; forcing a raise placed by another player to turn into a call; preventing a targeted player from acting for the rest of the hand; preventing a targeted player from acting for a number of hands; forcing all board cards, dealt after the action is triggered, to be dealt twice, as on two boards; forcing a swap of dealt cards with a targeted player for the rest of the hand; forcing the next community card to appear as another card to all players except for casting player; forcing the next community card to appear as having more than one face to all players except for casting player; preventing all players except for casting player from seeing the remaining cards on the board; forcing a hand to end, with no more cards being dealt but a winner of the hand being declared; forcing a hand to start over from the first betting round with all players having the same dealt cards as they started with, but shuffling the remaining cards in the deck before dealing the community cards; forcing all players to be dealt three cards, and forcing all players to muck one dealt card on the flop after the betting is completed; forcing a community card to be treated as the best possible card for each player's hand; forcing the remaining cards dealt to be tweaked so that casting player is granted a certain percent greater chance to catch a card that improves his hand value for the rest of the hand and/or a number of subsequent hands; forcing all players to act counter clockwise for the rest of the hand, the player on the button acting first; forcing a player to get less time to act than usual for the rest of the hand; and making it difficult for a player to perform betting and/or other actions.
 6. The method for computer gaming of claim 1, wherein said extended set of rules handled by said processing system also involves a further set of actions, which can be selectively triggered by a player during a game to affect one or more of said game influence actions.
 7. The method for computer gaming of claim 6, wherein said further set of actions includes at least one of the following actions: forcing the effect of a triggered game influence action to be undone; preventing a targeted player from using game influence actions for the rest of the hand and/or a number of subsequent hands; preventing a casting player from being affected by game influence actions for the rest of the hand and/or a number of subsequent hands; allowing a casting player to use more game influence actions than usual for the rest of the hand and/or a number of subsequent hands; and preventing game influence actions from being used for the rest of the hand and/or a number of subsequent hands.
 8. The method for computer gaming of claim 1, wherein said poker game forms part of a poker tournament, and said method further comprises the step of said processing system assigning, to each player, a predetermined number of game influence actions that may be used during the tournament.
 9. The method for computer gaming of claim 8, wherein said method further comprises the step of said processing system restricting, when a player has used a game influence action, that player from using any more game influence actions for a predetermined number of rounds.
 10. The method of computer gaming of claim 1, wherein said processing system is providing each player with the option to trigger a game influence action when it is the player's turn to act in the poker game.
 11. A game machine system, wherein said game machine system comprises a processing system configured to handle standard procedures for a poker game according to basic rules of poker, wherein said processing system is configured to deal cards, handle betting rounds, and decide which player(s) that wins the hand, and wherein said processing system is further configured to handle an extended set of rules involving a set of game influence actions, which can be selectively triggered by a player during a game to alter, override or extend the basic poker rules, wherein said processing system is configured to effectuate a selected one of said game influence actions in response to a user trigger, by a player, representing the selected game influence action.
 12. The game machine system of claim 11, wherein said processing system is configured to effectuate a game influence action designed to limit the gaming possibilities of one or more opponents and/or improve the gaming possibilities of the player invoking the game influence action.
 13. The game machine system of claim 11, wherein said processing system is configured to effectuate a game influence action that is a preventing or forcing action with respect to one or more players and/or one or more of the cards involved in the game.
 14. The game machine system of claim 11, wherein said poker game forms part of a poker tournament, and said processing system is configured to assign, to each player, a predetermined number of game influence actions that may be used during the tournament.
 15. The game machine system of claim 14, wherein said processing system is configured to restrict, when a player has used a game influence action, that player from using any more game influence actions for a predetermined number of rounds.
 16. The game machine system of claim 11, wherein said game machine system is realized in the form of a personal computer or a handheld device executing poker software, or as a specially manufactured game machine, and wherein said game machine system is configured to emulate players around a virtual poker table and allow a player to play against the game machine system.
 17. The game machine system of claim 11, wherein said game machine system represents a central processing system in an overall distributed system for on-line poker.
 18. The game machine system of claim 17, wherein said game machine system is realized as a poker server that can be connected to and interact with a number of user access units allowing players located at different locations to participate in a poker game.
 19. The game machine system of claim 18, wherein said poker server is configured to execute software representing a poker game application.
 20. A user access unit for computer gaming, wherein said user access unit is configured to allow a player to participate in a poker game according to basic rules of poker, wherein said user access unit has a user input interface configured to enable a player to provide relevant user input relating to the poker game, a network interface configured to enable interaction with a central processing system for on-line poker, and a graphic user interface configured to enable graphic representation of the poker game, and wherein said user access unit is further configured to enable the player to selectively invoke a game influence action from a set of game influence actions, which can be selectively triggered by the player during a game, to alter, override or extend the basic poker rules.
 21. The user access unit of claim 20, wherein said user access unit is configured to subject the player to a game influence action invoked by another player of the poker game.
 22. The user access unit of claim 20, wherein said user access unit is realized as a poker client comprising client software representing a poker game application for execution on processing hardware, and said network interface is configured to enable interaction with a poker server.
 23. A computer program for performing, when executed by a computer system, the method for computer gaming of claim
 1. 24. The computer program of claim 23, wherein said computer program is implemented as a computer program product on a computer-readable medium.
 25. A method for poker, wherein said method comprises the step of handling standard procedures for a poker game according to basic rules of poker including dealing cards, handling betting rounds, and deciding which player(s) that wins the hand, and wherein said method further comprises the step of handling an extended set of rules involving a set of game influence actions, which can be selectively triggered by a player during a game to alter, override or extend the basic poker rules including effectuating a selected one of said game influence actions in response to a user trigger, by a player, representing the selected game influence action. 